horticulture therapy

(normal price: £450)

Horticultural therapy may take many forms, from informal and casual to highly organised, from passive (such as enjoying a sensory garden) to active (becoming involved in the garden on a practical level). It often has educational elements and may be a means through which to develop and enhance key life skills. Horticultural therapy is now used in many hospitals, nursing homes, and community, rehabilitative and mental health situations. It may be of special benefit to children, the elderly, and people living with physical or mental challenges.

Our course provides a comprehensive introduction to horticultural therapy and its practical applications. Subjects covered include: horticulture and education, underlying theory and research, planning a therapy programme, creating a sensory garden, understanding plants, key skills, and core therapy techniques. The course textbook, Horticulture as Therapy: Principles and Practices, by Sharon Simson, is included in the course fee, along with all study materials and full tutorial support.

Our courses are updated frequently to ensure they include the latest research, idea and techniques.

When you enrol on the course you are assigned an experienced personal tutor who will work with you all the way through. Tutors are available by e-mail at any time to offer support, advice or if you would just like a chat about how the course is going - including weekends, bank holidays and evenings! We see this level of support as central to the success of our courses. If you would prefer to chat to your tutor you can arrange a call back through the main office at a mutually convenient time. Students have up to three years to complete this course, allowing them to work through the modules at their own pace. On average, however, it takes students around 6 - 8 months to complete the course, based on 2 - 3 hours study time per week.

Each enrolment on our Horticultural Therapy course includes a one year membership of Thrive. As a profession Horticultural Therapy is in its infancy in the UK, but Thrive is the leading organisation in this field.

  "Thrive is a national charity, founded in 1978, that makes use of gardening to change the lives of disabled people.

  Gardening is a wonderfully flexible medium through which an individual can accomplish many things. Some may be immediately apparent, such as rebuilding strength after an accident or an illness, or providing a purposeful activity which helps people to cope with a difficult period in their life. Some may be less obvious such as helping to improve literacy through a simple task such as labelling a plant or reading a seed packet..."

  Thrive Website - www.thrive.org.uk

We are keen to see Horticultural Therapy develop as a profession in the UK. As part of this commitment, Learning Curve will also make a donation of £10 to Thrive for every enrolment on the Horticultural Therapy course.

Our tutorial support is second-to-none! You'll be assigned a personal tutor as soon as you enrol who will work with you all the way through. You can contact your tutor directly at any time if you have any questions or problems, or if you would just like a chat about how the course is going. Tutorial support is by e-mail and/or telephone.

You can spread the cost of your course over 4 months by choosing our instalment option. There is a £20 administration fee if you choose this option.

Normal instalment price price: £470: Deposit - £70.00; four instalments - £100.00 each. If booking on-line: £402.75; deposit - £70; four instalments - £83.18. (This includes an administration fee of £20.) You will only be charged the deposit when you enrol.

If you wish to pay by instalments please contact us on: 01896 860661.

Learning Curve is one of the UK's leading distance learning providers. All of our home study courses include study material, which is sent out in an attractive, hardwearing folder, essential course books and full tutorial support. We are accredited by the Open and Distance Learning Quality Council, members of the Association of British Correspondence Colleges and the British Learning Association, and registered as providers with the Learning Skills Council. For more about Learning Curve click here.